I’ve read a number of ghost stories by M.R. James over the years in various anthologies. This collection brings many of his unique stories together in an excellent volume. David Morell provides a detailed and informative Introduction to James and his writings. This volume in The Haunted Library of Horror Classics includes a suggested reading list of more ghost stories, more information on M.R. James, and some info about the editors of the series.
My favorite story in Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1905) is the famous horror story “The Ash-Tree.” A woman is accused of witchcraft and burned to death. The accuser, Sir Matthew Fell of Castringham Hall, is later found dead in a peculiar manner. The bedroom where he died is closed for decades until Sir Richard Fell, his grandson, decided to spend a night in the forbidding bedroom. The next morning Sir Richard’s body was found in bed, black and dead. The cause of death will surprise you!
M. R. James set a high standard for writing and this volume presents eight grand stories in the British traction of supernatural horror. Highly recommended! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION By David Morrell — xi
About David Morrell — xxiii
Preface — 1
Canon Alberic’s Scrap-Book — 3
Lost Hearts — 18
The Mezzotint — 30
The Ash-Tree — 44
Number 13 — 60
Count Magnus — 78
‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ — 93
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas — 117
About the Author, M. R. James — 138
Suggested Discussion Question for Classroom Use — 140
Suggest Further Reading of Fiction — 144
About the Series Editors — 148
Notable publisher Ash-Tree Press took that name for a reason…this collection is an enduring classic (I have another edition around here)…I will seek out Morrell’s intro.
Todd, if you would like a copy of GHOST STORIES OF AN ANTIQUARY with the great Morrell Introduction, I’d be happy to send it to you.
Haven’t read any MR James in years. And I do like ghost stories. I will have to dig one out.
Patti, M.R. James set a high standard for Ghost Stories.
James was one of the ablest and most consistent ghost story writers. Along with E. F. Benson, Henry James, and a few others, his work provided a template for future generations to strive toward.
My favorite M. R. James story? It varies from day to day. Today it’s “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad.”
Jerry, “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad” is another M.R. James classic. You have excellent taste!
I read this and MOST GHOST STORIES at least 10 years ago. A classic for sure.
Jeff, I’m impressed by M.R. James’s range in these ghost stories.
James was my first obsessive “horror” author (Oliver Onions is the other) and I reread his work every year. I think he really is the gold standard. “Oh, Whistle-” is still probably my favorite story of his and there is a surprisingly good short film adaptation from around 1967 (BBC, I think) that is well worth tracking down on YouTube. I also favor “The Mezzotint” because haunted inanimate objects strike a special chord in me and that idea was kinda, sorta adapted for a “Night Gallery.”
Christopher Lee used to read James’s work every Christmas Eve on British television and the videos are readily available for some spooky holiday viewing. The Haunted Library series has some nice volumes out there and I heartily recommend the whole series.
Byron, my first obsessive “horror” author was Robert Bloch. Back in the 1960s, Pyramid Books brought out paperbacks with Bloch’s short stories and I was swept away! Thanks for the BBC suggestion. I agree with you on THE HAUNTED LIBRARY series!
I keep promising my husband I will read some stories by M.R. James. Maybe this year.
Tracy, October and Halloween make the perfect time to read ghost stories!
This is a great collection–I reviewed it a few years back. As for a favourite… it’s difficult simply because so many are great. Like Jerry, my favourite today (and the last time I read the collection) is “OH Whistle…” My favourite when I was younger and first read the book was “The Mezzotint,” as the visual in this one really creeped me out at the time. “The Ash-Tree” is certainly among the strongest as well.
Frank, many anthologies include M.R. James stories. But it’s nice to have these great stories all together in one place!
I’m not a fan of ghost stories and especially of witch stories.
It was just 250 years ago that the last witch was killed in Switzerland!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_G%C3%B6ldi
We have a bad joke that can be applied to several of our conservative christian politicians who fathered children out of wedlock.
Mr X visits his priest and asks him whether he couldn’t have burned Miss Y – she must be a witch because she got him to have sex with her and his wife is really angry.
The priest says: Well, 250 years ago we would have done this but now???
Wolf, you might want to skip my post next Wednesday if you don’t like witches.